Help continuously opening

manxmike · Nov 2, 2023

Since the last two updates a wide variety of programmes open their help page without warning causing the programme in question to stop functioning until the help window is closed - this sometimes takes up to 10 minutes. I basically go and make a cup of coffee while waiting for the help programme to stop opening and closing repeatedly.
As a consequence I have disabled updates and have binned the last two. Hopefully this might fix the problem, time will tell. It got so bad that I had to uninstall Office amongst other things and have replaced it with Apache Open Office. Then that started opening help windows.
I'll keep you informed if this has done the trick.

antspants · Nov 2, 2023

Hi manxmike, welcome to the Eleven Forums.

Is there any chance a function key (F1?) on your keyboard is faulty? Or the entire keyboard?

manxmike · Nov 2, 2023

I suppose it could be, it's actually a new keyboard, so should be OK. I hate to think that I will need to keep buying keyboards just to find out if that's what the problem is.
Would it make any difference to physically remove the F1 key?

antspants · Nov 2, 2023

manxmike said:
I suppose it could be, it's actually a new keyboard, so should be OK. I hate to think that I will need to keep buying keyboards just to find out if that's what the problem is.
Would it make any difference to physically remove the F1 key?

No unfortunately. But you can disable it via settings.

manxmike · Nov 2, 2023

I tried opening the help for Open Office and the same problem happened, the help screen kept opening and eventually went away. I have now removed the F1 key from the keyboard!

antspants · Nov 2, 2023

You could run these reg files to see if it helps diagnose the issue.

DisableF1Key.reg will disable the F1 key to see if the problem comes back.

If it still happens after running DisableF1Key.reg (and logging out then back in) then it isn't your keyboard. Just run EnableF1Key.reg to get the F1 key back

EnableF1Key.reg will reactivate the F1 key. Run this when you want your F1 key to function again

To run these, save them to your desktop and dbl click on the file to run. Say yes and OK until it's done.
You may need to sign out and back in after running these (I haven't needed to)

If your unsure of running these, wait until someone else comes along to confirm the legitimacy.

Disable F1 Key

Content of reg file:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Typelib\{8cec5860-07a1-11d9-b15e-000d56bfe6ee}\1.0\0\win32]
@=""

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Typelib\{8cec5860-07a1-11d9-b15e-000d56bfe6ee}\1.0\0\win64]
@=""

Enable F1 Key

Content of reg file:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Typelib\{8cec5860-07a1-11d9-b15e-000d56bfe6ee}]

manxmike · Nov 2, 2023

Thanks, I've used that to disable F1, hopefully that will solve the problem.
I noticed elsewhere on this site that a lot of people seem to want to disable updates - I thought it was just me. They seem to slow down my PC and usually create problems that I suppose the next update will address.
I can't help wondering why no-one at Microsoft is worried by this, or is it a way of encouraging people to buy Mac?

antspants · Nov 2, 2023

manxmike said:
Thanks, I've used that to disable F1, hopefully that will solve the problem.
I noticed elsewhere on this site that a lot of people seem to want to disable updates - I thought it was just me. They seem to slow down my PC and usually create problems that I suppose the next update will address.
I can't help wondering why no-one at Microsoft is worried by this, or is it a way of encouraging people to buy Mac?

Yes some people are stopping updates, but it’s usually because they know bigger updates are coming. Like the new 23H2 version of Windows which was released on October the 31st.
@manxmike there could be many reasons your PC could be slow and running faults. How long has it been since Windows was installed on your computer? What kind of file and system maintenance do you do, if you have done any?
What build of windows are you running? Type winver into the search bar and press enter.

manxmike · Nov 3, 2023

I'm running 21H2 (OS build 22000.2416)
To be honest I have no idea what that actually means. I am a luddite when it comes to software. I have never done coding, I used to build PCs, but just the hardware side - programmes leave me totally bemused.

manxmike · Nov 3, 2023

Just checked and my system doesn't meet the minimum requirements to update to 22H2 let alone 23H2.
I do have a Lenovo X1 fold which does meet the requirements.
I suppose I'll have to do a proper clean up on my PC and see if that helps.

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